Dubai Exhibition Showcases Record-Breaking 4,000 Vintage Caps

Talk about a head count! The 2025 Latagan Sa Gitnang Silangan exhibition in Dubai has set a new record for cap collectors, featuring an unprecedented showcase of 4,000 rare and vintage caps. Over 200 attendees gathered to celebrate the evolving world of headwear culture.

What started as a small gathering of Filipino cap enthusiasts in the UAE has now become an international event. The exhibition was spearheaded by Algene De Los Reyes, the founder of BangketaPH, a renowned vintage cap company. The event aims to shed light on the cultural significance of caps, demonstrating how they have influenced style, sports, and identity over the years.

Unlike traditional collector events, Latagan Sa Gitnang Silangan is purely an exhibition, with no buying or selling allowed. Instead, it offered an exclusive look at some of the rarest caps in existence. This year’s collection featured standout highlights, including a 200-piece ‘Mighty Ducks’ collection, which is recognised as the largest of its kind worldwide. Also on display was the MLB Black Dome collection, where individual caps are valued at AED 3,000.

Among the exhibitors, Robert Alcazar, a well-known collector, displayed an impressive 500-cap collection, the largest by a single participant.

Now in its second year, the exhibition has grown significantly from its debut in 2024, which showcased 3,100 vintage caps. Last year’s highlight was the Raiders Pewter Hat, valued at AED 6,500.